Measles Update: October 9, 2026

Today, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported there were 4,080* cases of measles in the US as of October 8, 2026. Week-over-week, this marks an additional 193 cases and a 5.0% increase, down from the 6.2% rise reported last week.^1,2 Last week, the federal agency reported there were 3,887* confirmed cases.

CDC said there were 4,062 measles cases were reported by 47 jurisdictions: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York City, New York State, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. A total of 18 measles cases were reported among international visitors to the United States.¹

The federal agency reports there have been 42 new outbreaks** reported in 2026, and 96% of confirmed cases (3,897 of 4,080) are outbreak-associated (2,513 from outbreaks starting in 2026 and 1,384 from outbreaks starting in 2025).¹

Hospitalizations Reach 414 as 95% of Cases Are Unvaccinated or Unknown Status

CDC reported 414 hospitalizations among the 4,080 confirmed cases in 2026, or 10% of the total.¹ By age group, 15% of children younger than 5 years (107 of 710) were hospitalized, followed by 14% of adults 20 years and older (229 of 1,635) and 5% of those aged 5 to 19 years (78 of 1,716).¹

Children and adolescents aged 19 years or younger account for 59% of cases, with 710 (17%) in those younger than 5 years and 1,716 (42%) in those aged 5 to 19 years. Adults 20 years and older account for 1,635 cases (40%).¹

Vaccination status remained the dominant feature of the 2026 caseload. CDC categorized 95% of cases as unvaccinated or unknown status, 2% as having received one MMR dose, and 2% as having received two doses.¹ In 2025, the comparable figure for unvaccinated or unknown status was 93%.¹

CDC Death Count Differs From State Reports

CDC listed 2 measles deaths for 2026 and 3 for 2025, and noted the 2026 figure is subject to change as additional information becomes available and reviews are completed.¹ The agency is also working with the Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists (CSTE) to develop a standardized case definition for measles deaths.¹

Contagion has reported five measles-related deaths in 2026 based on state health department reports, including the death of an unvaccinated Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, resident announced by the Pennsylvania Department of Health last week.²

2026 Case Total Is 78% Above the Full 2025 Count

CDC reported 2,289 confirmed measles cases for all of 2025, compared with 4,080 so far in 2026, a 78% higher total with nearly three months of the year remaining.¹ The agency counted 48 outbreaks in 2025, while 42 new outbreaks have been reported so far in 2026.¹

Kindergarten MMR coverage has declined from 95.2% in the 2019-2020 school year to 92.4% in 2025-2026, leaving approximately 280,000 kindergartners at risk, according to CDC.¹ The agency notes most people are protected through community immunity when more than 95% of a community is vaccinated.¹

*It is important to note that the CDC says on its website that the federal agency is aware of probable measles cases being reported by jurisdictions. However, the data on this page only include confirmed cases that jurisdictions notified the CDC about. Therefore, there could be higher numbers in the US overall.

**CDC reports the cumulative number of measles outbreaks (defined as 3 or more related cases) that have occurred this year in the US; states have the most up-to-date information about cases and outbreaks in their jurisdictions.

Continue to check back with Contagion for our weekly updates, news announcements around the disease, and clinician commentary. In addition, we have a measles library of articles and clinician commentary.

References

1. Measles Cases and Outbreaks. CDC. Updated October 9, 2026. Accessed October 9, 2026. https://www.cdc.gov/measles/data-research/index.html

2. Parkinson J. Measles update: October 2, 2026. Contagion. October 2, 2026. Accessed October 9, 2026. https://contagionlive.com/view/measles-update-october-2-2026